The Grizzlies have gotten the better of the Celtics in every game after the shortened 2011-2012 season. The combination of tough defense and the big men duo Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph has overpowered Boston in those five games, and with Jared Sullinger out for the season, it's hard to see how they will stop Memphis this time.
The Celtics are home after a bizzaro three-game road trip – losing the game in which they were favored and winning the two games in which they were not. They were without shooting guard Avery Bradley for that trip, but he should be able to return for this game. And that might be a much needed relief after Isaiah Thomas got a bruised back and elbow in Monday night's game against the Miami Heat. Thomas is a game-time-decision for the Memphis game.
Datome has played his way into Boston's rotation
During the recent road trip, Coach Brad Stevens adjusted his rotations somewhat. Rookie James Young got a couple of "Did not play – coach's decision" against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat. His minutes went to newly acquired Italian small forward Luigi Datome who made the best of his chances and prevailed as an efficient and opportunistic scorer, setting career highs in both games, ten points in the first game and 13 points in the second one.
Veteran Gerald Wallace also got some playing time, possibly because of Avery Bradley's injury, and even though ”Crash” looked rusty on offense, his defense is still tenacious, which is something the Celtics can use during the home stretch of the season.
It's Jeff Green's first time back in Boston
The Grizzlies' Jeff Green makes his return to Boston in this game, and the question is whether he deserves a video tribute and/or an ovation from the Celtics fans after his four seasons with the club (three if you take away the 2011-2012 season that he missed due to heart surgery). He wasn't always popular with the crowd, since he was traded for one of their heroes, Kendrick Perkins, but he earned a lot of sympathy and respect after his comeback in 2012.
Green never became a star in Boston, even though they, in some ways, tried to groom him into one as the main scorer and go-to-guy. He is probably a better fit in Memphis, where the expectations are lower and it's seen more as a bonus when he takes over a game offensively, not a given.
The Grizzlies are on pace for best season in franchise history
The Grizzlies are in pretty good shape at this point of the season. Their roster is injury free except for minor stuff, and they have some pretty impressive away wins after the All-Star break. They also have a couple of upsetting losses against minor teams. But all in all, they seem poised to earn the best regular season record in franchise history. Right now, their record is 45-18, and last season they had a franchise-best 55 wins. They are currently placed second in the West, but it's a close race for the second to eighth seeds in the conference.
Meanwhile, the Celtics are still battling to get a playoff spot in the East. The victory over Miami was a must in that regard, and though their remaining schedule looks tough, it's actually easier than their competitors for the seventh or eighth spot in the conference, if you compare their strength-of-schedule. Right now, Boston is in tenth place, two games behind the Indiana Pacers and the Charlotte Hornets who share the seventh place with the same record.
As mentioned, the Memphis big men will be a tough task for Boston both offensively and defensively. The only really physically strong big man on the Celtics roster is Brandon Bass, and though he has played great lately, he is undersized compared to the trio of Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Kosta Koufos.
On the other hand, Boston has the tools to make this game interesting by going small. Most of their roster is able to shoot the three-ball and stretch the defense, and they have had some success with this against bigger teams this season. It remains to be seen, whether they can rattle the Grizzlies, who are usually elite on defense, no matter what the opponent brings.